Selective signaling means



J. McFELL.

SELECTIVE SIGNALING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1912.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1912.

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J. McFELL,

SELECTIVE SIGNALING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1912.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

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II 1 ill rarrrr SELECTIVE SIGNALING MEANS.

iaaasaaf Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed May 9, 1912. Serial No. 696,082.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JUosoN MOFELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Selective Signaling Means, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to selective signaling means, and in some of its features it relates particularly to a system wherein the signal responsive devices or selectors at a number of stations, as, for example, railroad stations along a line, may selectively be operated from a transmitting station, as for in stance a train despatcher"s station.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a selective signal system wherein the apparatus of each individual signaling station may be responsive individually to its own number signal, and whereby the devices at all receiving stations may be made responsive to the same universal call signal, so that the calling operator (as the train dispatcher) may call any individual receiving station or all of the receiving stations at once.

My invention further'has for its object to provide improved transmitting means for the use of the calling operator, especially constructed to facilitate his selective calling work.

A further object of my invention is to provide rugged and effective devices throughout the system for the performance of the desired functions, and generally and in detail to improve such apparatus.

In the accompanying drawing wherein I have shown an embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a convenient selector arrangement in one advantageous association with some of the mechanical parts of the transmitting apparatus; Fig. 2 is a detail of the controller lever; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a calling device or transmitter; Fig. 4 is an end view thereof, and; Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 55 of Fig. 8.

In the arrangement shown as an embodiment of my invention, A and B indicate signal receiving devices or selectors located at different signal receiving stations, such as the railroad stations along a line.

C indicates in general a transmitting station, or central station, at which is located the motor-operated transmitting machinery generally indicated as D and a key board generally indicated as E.

In general each selector (of which any number may be provided) has an electro magnet 10 in suitable association with the line Wires 12 and 13, to receive current impulses from battery 14 and has a suitable annunciator 11, shown as a gong, and suitable selector mechanism intervening between the annunciator 11 and the current-responsive device or electromagnet 10, such that only upon the passage of predetermined groups of impulses, indicating a predetermined number signal, through the magnet 10 will the gong 11 be caused to respond.

The line-impulses are occasioned by the transmitter D which has a signal Wheel, or toothed-number-wheel, corresponding with each selector on the line and an appropriate line switch foreach number Wheel, each number wheel with its signaling switch constituting what I will term a signal transmitting unit. Each such transmitting unit is normally disabled to send a signal, and is in turn controlled by its appropriate key, or signal-initiator, on the key-board, so that, by operation of the appropriate key, the unit is conditioned 'for signal transmission. In a general way, it may preliminarily be understood that it isdesired, in the particular construction shown, that each key, when operated by the train dispatcher, will start the transmitter wheels in operation and will condition for signal-transmission the signal-transmitting unit of the transmitter corresponding with the selected key, so that the proper wheel accordingly will send its particular number signal over the line, influencing all of the magnets 10 of the various selectors, but occasioning a responsive gong-signal to be given only by that particular selector, or those selectors, which may be structurally set to respond to that particular number signal.

A selector suitable for employment for the purpose stated is fully described in my Patent 1,024,590 dated April 30, 1912, but I have herein diagrammatically shown in simple form a construction suitable for the purpose. In the specific construction herein shown magnet 10 has a vibrating armature 15 having a lever extension 16, carrying a pivoted arm 17, which may actuate afinger 18 of the clapper 19 for gong 11, but normally raised above such gong-operating position. The unbalanced weight of the arm 17 makes of it a motor-member which seeks constantly to descend but said arm is connected to a controller lever 20 by a link 21, so that descent of the arm 17 to gong-operating position requires an oscillation of the controller 20. The controller illustrated in "Fig. 2 is subject to restraint against oscillacapement device 26 to retard the return movement of the armature lever 16 to retracted position so that, in general, the attraction of the armature 15 causes the ratchet wheel 24 to step forward one step, and then, when the magnet is deenergized,

'the armature lever 16 returns freely far enough to prepare for engagement with the next tooth of the ratchet, but the balance of its return movement to fully retracted position is retarded by the escapement device 26.

Oneend of the pivoted controller lever 20 is provided with inturned fingers 31 and 32 and an inturned broad lip 33 arranged to co-act with an arcuate flange or rim 34 secured upon the face of the ratchet wheel 24. Through this arcuate flange are cut slots 35, 36 and 37, and directly below slots 35 and 36 are arranged pins 35 and 36, there being no pin below the slot 37. A small gravity latch 138 forms'an extension of the forward end of the flange, and, obviously enables lip 33 and fingers 32 and 31 (upon proper occasion to be described) freely to pass upward through the are 138-34 to their normal position where the lower finger 31 may ride upon the arcuate surface 138-34. At its opposite end the controller 20 is provided with fingers 31 32 and 33, arranged for cotiperation with a restraining plate 38 carried on the armature lever 16, and which is arranged to be removed from the path of said fingers 31, etc., only when the armature lever is fully retracted. The signaling impulses in thevline occur with such frequency that the armature lever will be retracted only.when there is a dwell or break in the signaling such as that which occurs between two numbengroups. And now it will be apparent that only by the dwelling of the magnet armature at a time when the ratchet wheel 24 is in certain predetermined positions, bringing the notches 35, 36 successively in register with fingers 31, 32, can the control lever 20 be released to permit arm 17 to descend to gong-operating position. Assuming the number of the selector A to be 53 its primary operation will obviously be as follows: Number signal 53 is sent over the line by transmitting a group of five impulses, then dwelling for a proper time and then transmitting another group of three impulses and then dwelling again before the final. succession of gong-impulses occurs. The first five impulses step the ratchet wheel 24 forward five steps which brings slot 35 in register with the finger 31, such parts registering as soon as the attraction of the armature on its fifth stroke steps the ratchet wheel forward. At this time, however, the restraining plate 38 on the armature stands in the path of finger 31. The dwell in the signaling impulses however enables armature lever 16 to be fully retracted, carrying the plate 38 out of the path of finger 31. Accordingly the controller 20 drops one step, its finger 31 passing through notch 35 and striking pin 35. When the first of the group of three impulses occurs pin 35 moves out from under finger 31 enabling finger 32 to drop to position to ride upon the arcuate flange 31 until at the end of three impulses it registers with notch 36. Upon the dwell following the group of three impulses the restraining plate 38 is removed froln the path of finger 32 enabling finger 32 to drop through the notch 36. This brings arm 17 into horizontal register with the finger 18 of the gong clapper 19, so that all the succeeding impulses through the magnet 10 not only advance the ratchet wheel 24 but also cause the armature lever, through its arm, 17, to operate the gong. Each selector, of course, has its notches 35 and 36 in position corresponding with a different number. All selectors, however, may have the notch 37 (which is not provided with a sub-jaccnt pin) arranged in the same number position, which position represents a number of impulses greater than the sum of the combined digits of any selector on the line. It will, therefore, be apparent that if this number of impulses (say 13 or 19) be sent in uninterrupted succession and then there be a break in the signaling impulses, all selectors will have advanced until notch 37 registers with the controller lever fingers 31 and 32, and then the dwell occurs, both fingers 31 and 32 of all the selectors will drop through their respective notches, 37, only the broad lip 33 preventing the controller 20 from making a complete descent. In this way all selectors are keyed to respond to a universal signal, or in similar fashion any number of selectors may be keyed to respond to any one signal.

When the end of the arcuate flange 34 passes beyond the lip 33 the controller 20 may descend to its lowest position, but this has to do only with the releasing operation for restoring the selector at a normal position, and mechanism to that end I will now briefly describe. When such final descent of the controller lever 20 occurs arm 17 drops to its lowest position below the gong clapper 18, and strikes the tail of a holding pawl 40, lifting it so that the weight 41 on the ratchet wheel 24- may turn said ratchet wheel back toward normal position. On the return of ratchet wheel 24 a pin 42 thereon strikes a pivoted nose 43 of a weighted lever 44 to lift said lever, which, through a link connection 45 in turn lifts a lever 46 so that its pivoted nose 47 passes under and engages with a pin 48 on the arm 17 Just as the ratchet wheel 35 reaches its normal position pin 42 escapes nose 43 of lever 44 so that said lever drops, actuating the connected lever 46 to raise the arm 17 to normal position before the pawl 47 of said lever 46 escapes from the pin 48 of said arm 17. As the arm 17 is lifted the fingers 33, 32, and 31, of the controller, raise latch 138 and pass to position above the arcuate flange 34, the latch 138 falling by gravity to prevent return of the finger 31 to lowered position, and thereby completing the restoration to normal condition of the entire selector mechanism.

At the transmitting station the transmitter C provides a series of switch operating number wheels, of which there are shown four, namely, ATV, BW, ClV, and Ul/V, being respectively the wheels for selector A and selector B, a clearing-out wheel and a universal-number-signal wheel. The wheels ATV and BW have their teeth arranged in groups to transmit first the boX numbers of their respective selectors followed by a series of gong-operating impulses; the clear ing-out wheel C117 is arranged to send simply an uninterrupted series of impulses, the universal wheel is arranged to send the universal call number (say 13 or 19) followed by a series of gong-operating impulses. All of these wheels are arranged upon a common shaft and are in metallic connection therewith, such shaft being connected with the battery so as to form part of the line 13. Each wheel is provided with a complemental brush 51, normally removed from the path of its wheel, all of said brushes being connected in common to wire 13 thereby to provide a system of parallel line switches, any one of which may close the line circuit when the brush is brought into contact with a tooth of the corresponding number wheel. This specific construction merely provides in one advantageous way a series of number wheels and line switch means therefor, normally disabled but adapted. for actuation to connect any selected number wheel in signal transmitting relation to the circuit.

The transmitter (see Fig. 3) D is motordriven, as by an electric motor 54 mounted on the base plate 55 of said frame, the driving connections to wheel shaft 50 being established in this instance through a worm gear 56 and a further reduction gear 57. All of the contact brushes 51 are spring members mounted upon a cross-bar 58 insulated from the remainder of the frame for common connection to the line wire 13, as heretofore described.

The appliances associated with the various number wheels are alike in construction, the complete arrangement of one wheel being shown in Fig. 5. The brush 51 acts as a retracting spring for the armature 60 of an electro-magnet 61 mounted upon suitable braces 62 of the frame, so that when the armature is attracted the brush is depressed into position for coijperation of the teeth of its wheel. The magnet 61 thus constitutes the direct means for bringing the line switch and number wheel into operative associa tion. A latch lever 63 is provided for the armature 60, said latch being arranged in vertical position or at right angle to the armature and provided with a forwardly projecting shouldered head 64, which, when the armature is depressed may swing forward over a contiguous portion of the armature lever to latch in its depressed position, thus to insure maintenance of the operative relation of the line switch and number wheel until the latch is positively released. The latch lever, when in armature-unlatching position, closes a switch 66 the front leaf of which acts as a spring for the latch, so that the switch opens when the latch is forced forward to latching position. This switch 66, as shown in the circuit diagram, is connected in circuit with the magnet 61 so as to open the magnet circuit as soon as the magnet has done its work. The lever 63 is provided with a forwardly projecting arm 67 upon the extremity of which is pivoted a pawl 68, arranged, when rocked, to act against a spring 69. The pawl has a limited movement only in one direction, to bring a finger 68 into engagement with an arm 67, and is provided .with a pin 70 arranged, in the course of such limited movement, to close a spring switch 71, which is conveniently mounted in front of the switch 66.

Upon the corresponding number wheel 1 provide a pin 72 arranged to coact with the tail of the pawl 68 when the lever 63 is in pass out of engagement with said pawl substantially at the time that the pin 72 reaches its normal position, said pin completing the provision of means to disable the line switch again after a signaling cycle. In the operation of the device, as will be hereafter explained, the shaft makes one complete revolution each time it is set in operation. Now, referring to Fig. 5, it will be apparent that if the armature 60 is depressed and shaft 50 is given acomplete revolution, the operation will be as follows: Depression of the armature forces brush 51 into the path of the wheel teeth to condition the line.

switch for signaling; the tension of spring 66 forces forward the latch lever 63 until its head latches the armature in depressed position to maintain the operative relation of the line switch to the wheel, the switch 66 opening as it throws forward the latch lever so to open the magnet circuit; thetail of pawl 68 is thus thrown into the path of pin 7 2 and near the end of the rotation of wheel AWV pin 72 engages the pawl-tail and rocks pawl 68 so that pin closes switch. 71, after which, (the pawl having reached the limit of its pivotal movement) the latch lever is forced bodily rearward so that it releases the armature 60, whereupon brush 51 forces up the armature 60 to normal position and all of the parts are restored to normal arrangement substantially at the time that the wheel completes its cycle.

In order to insure that the shaft of the transmitter will start in its motor driven operation as soon as any magnet 61 is energized, and will continue in operation until the signal-wheel shaft has made a complete revolution, I provide in the motor circuit a switch 75 (Figs. 1 and 1), normally open and adapted. to be closed by either of two opposed levers 76 and 77, which I may term respectively the starting and stopping levers. Lever 76 is normally held in inoperative position by latch 78, which constitutes the armature of a motor-starting magnet 79, arranged, as hereafter described, in a circuit common to all of the line-switchcontrolling magnets 61, the stopping lever 77 is controlled by a cam mounted on a shaft 50. The cam 80 has a notch 81 (Fig. 4) with a radial front wall, a concentric surface 82, and a slight depression from the true circle, as indicated at 83, adjacent the radial front wall of the notch 81. The arrangement of these switch-controlling parts for motor-switch 75 is such that when the armature 78 of starting-magnet 79 unlatches the starting lever 76 the falling of said lever closes the switch 75, and as the cam 80 raises the stopping lever 77 a suitable projection on said lever presses upwardly against the switch 75 to hold it closed and to raise the spring thereof upward. WVhen the end of lever 77 is traveling on the concentric portion 82 of the cam 80, the springs of switch 75 are raised so high that the starting lever 76 is lifted toan appropriate elevation to be latched by the armature 78, but as the portion 83 of the cam 80 passes under the end of the lever 77, the lever 76 (unless it be latched by the armature 78) may descend below the level at which it may be latched by the armature 78. Obviously, if the starting magnet receives a single impulse the switch 75 will be closed and will remain closed until the shaft makes a complete revolution, cam 80 lifting the starting lever to re-latched position and finally dropping the stopping lever 77 to initial position in notch 81, to open motor switch 75.

On the key board E there is a key, or signal initiator, corresponding with each signal wheel, as indicated by the characters UK AK BK and CK. Each key when depressed moves a switch spring 85 out of engagement with an upper spring 86 and into engagement with a lower contact 87. Each key is provided with a latch 88 adapted automatically to engage the key to hold it in depressed position, and for each latch is provided a release magnet 89 which when energized withdraws the latch member 88 to allow switch springs 85 to restore the key to normal or raised position.

The circuit connections of the key board and transmitter parts may conveniently be arranged to provide for each key a starting circuit as follows: 90 indicates a battery connected as by wire 91 with the motorstarting magnet 79 and thence by wire 92 to one terminal of each line-switch controlling magnet 61. The opposite terminal of each magnet 61 is connected by wire 93 to its own circuit breaking switch 66, and thence by wire 9% to the spring 87 of the corresponding key. The other side of the battery 90 is connected by wire 95 with the spring 85 of the first occurring switch (OK) the spring 86 whereof has connection 95 with spring 85 of the next succeeding switch (AK) and so on throughout the series of switches, so that the connections of spring 85 of each switch with the battery 90 depends upon the closure of all of the preceding switches 8586 of the series. Thus the starting circuit for each key is controlled by all preceding keys.

A key-release circuit for each magnet 89 is provided as follows: From the opposite terminals of the battery 90 may be run two wires 96 and 97, across which are bridged, by wires 98, all of the magnets 89, each wire 98 including therein the switch 71 of the corresponding unit. Thus, each number wheel has its operative relation to the line controlled by a corresponding key, the operation whereof is dependent upon the condition of all other keys antecedent thereto in a prearranged series, each key when set being releasable upon the conclusion of the signaling operation which its setting has ini tiated.

Assuming that selector A is to be operated: The dispatcher depresses key AK on his key board E, which is latched in such position, throwing the switch spring 85 into connection with contact 87. The starting circuit is established from battery 90 by wires 95 and 95 to the depressed switch springs 85, contact 87, wire 94, switch 66, of the trans mitter unit AW, the corresponding magnet 61, wire 92, motor-starting magnet 79, and wire 91, back to the battery 90. The consequent energization of starting magnet 79 causes it to attract its armature 78, releasing or unlatching the starting lever 76 which closed motor-switch 75 to start the motor 541. The switch 75 will now stay closed until the motor-driven shaft 50 has made one complete revolution, for although the cam 80 promptly raises the stopping lever 77, and through the switch 75 restores the lever 76 to raised position where it may be latched by the armature 78, said lever 77 maintains the switch 75 closed until such time as the shaft 50 has completed its revolution and the end of lever 77 drops into the notch 81, of cam 80 to open motor switch 7 5 and stop the motor.

The energization of line-switch controlling magnet 61, included in the circuit above described results in the attraction of armature 60 which depresses the line switch brush 61 into position for contact with the wheel teeth of the transmitting unit ATV, placing the wheel and switch in signaling cotiperation. Such depression of the armature re leases the latch lever 63 which is impelled forward by the resiliency of the switch 66,

so that the armature is mechanically held depressed, and the switch 66 is allowed to spring open, so breaking the starting circuit above described and deenergizing both the magnet 61 and the magnet 79. This condition of the parts of the key board and the transmitter will continue until the shaft 50, of the transmitter has made its complete revolution. Consequently the signal wheel ATV transmits over the line 1213 a series of impulse groups in accordance with the grouping of the teeth upon the periphery of the wheel, the signal sent consisting of the number 53 followed by a continuous group of impulses of any desired number. At each receiving station along the line, the magnet 10 responds to the impulses thus transmitted, and correspondingly vibrates its armature 15 and armature lever 16. The impulses occasioned by successive teeth occur so rapidly that the armature lever 16, when once thrown forward by the attraction of the armature does not return to completely retracted positon during the brief interval between impulses, the presence of the retarding device 26 necessitating the occurrence of a dwell in the signaling impulses to permit of full retraction of the armature 16. Now, considering the selector A, it will be apparent that the first five impulses advance the selector wheel 24ilive steps, so bringing the notch 35 in the wheel flange into register with pin or finger 31 of the controlling lever 20. Then occurs a dwell in the signal transmission, and during such dwell the resistance of the retard device 26 is overcome by the armature lever 16 which moves to fully retracted position, drawing the plate 38 out of the way of the finger 31 of the controlling lever 20, and so permitting the controller lever to return, finger 31 dropping through the notch 35, and engaging pin 35. The next group of three impulses followed by a dwell similarly brings notch 36 into register with finger 32 and retraction of the armature lever 16 frees the controller lever from the restraint of plate 38, so that finger 32 may drop through said notch. Then the first succeeding impulse is received finger 32 as capes from the pin 36 and the lip 33 of the controller rides upon the flange 3 1 of the wheel. In this position of the controller lever, the arm 17 connected with the armature lever, is depressed into register with the finger 18 of the gong clapper, and, consequently, each attraction of the armature 15 due to passage of the last series of teeth on the signaling wheel past the brush 51 occasions a blow to be struck by the gong clapper. Only at station A will such gong operation have been occasioned, for at no other station are the notches 35 and 36 positioned to correspond with the number 58.77

The number of extra impulses transmitted is suliicient to advance the selector wheel 24 until the flange 3-1 passes from under the lip 33 of the controller lever 20 and when the series of impulses is completed the parts of the selector will automatically restore themselves to normal or original position in manner heretofore described.

After these operations of the selector are completed the transmitter wheel completes its full revolution. In the last few degrees of its revolution the pin 72 strikes the pawl 68 and rocks it so as first to close the spring switch 71, and thereafter to permit latch lever 63 to be forced back to unlatched position, closing the switch 66 and allowing spring brush 51 to raise the armature 'to normal position before pin 72 escapes from the pawl 68 and permits said pawl to return :to normal position under the influence of its spring 79. The momentary closure of the switch 71, as described, closes the keyreleasing circuit 90, 96, 71, 98, 97 90, for the releasing magnet 89 of the key AK so that said magnet attracts the latching armature 88 and releases the key AK for restoration to raised position;

If several keys are depressed successively on the key board the stations will be called in succession without cessation of the motor operation, beginning with that station the key of which has its spring 85 first in the series from the battery 90. This will be readily apparent, for obviously if keys AK and BK be depressed key BK is disabled until keyAK has completed its restoration and has closed contacts 86S7 to give key BK an energized starting circuit. Even if the restoration of key AK occurs slightly in advance of the completion of the revolution of wheel shaft the motor runs the transmitter through its second cycle, for if magnet 79 trips out the starting lever while cam part 83 opposes lever 77 the starting lever can only be latched again after a second revolution of the shaft 50.

The clearing-out key CK controls the circuit for the signal wheel CW Which has simply an uninterrupted series of teeth so as to serve to cause an idle operation of all of the selectors to insure their simultaneous restoration to uniform position, and obviate the liability of any selectors being out of tors stand with that notch 37 beneath the fingers of the governor lever 20 and then a dwell in the signaling circuit occurs all selectors are set for gong operation.

pletion of the call. The automatic restora- 'tion, both of the selectors and the transmitting appliances, makes the proper clearing out of the system at each operation a practical certainty, but the provision of the clearing out key and Wheel enables the operator to insure that all selectors are properly conditioned for signal reception before he begins initiating his calls.

hile I have herein described in detail an operative embodiment of my invention, for purposes of complete disclosure, it will be apparent that many changes might be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention and Within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is;

1. Selective signaling means comprising a line, selectors coacting with said line each responsive to an individual number signal, and all responsive to a universal number signal, a signal transmitter comprising number wheels corresponding to the various number signals of the selectors, and a number wheel for the universal number to which all of the selectors respond, line switch means normally disabled for association with said wheels, driving means for the wheels, and manually operable means for placing any selected number Wheel and the line switching means in operative relation to transmit a number signal in the line.

2. Selective signaling means comprising in combination a line, selectors coacting with the line respectively responsive to predetermined number signals, transmitting means comprising number Wheels and line switch means normally disabled, and key means appropriate to each number wheel for placing said number Wheel and the switch means in condition to transmit the number-wheel signal over the line, the operation of each key being dependent upon the condition of all keys antecedent thereto.

3. Selective signaling means comprising in combination a line, a plurality of selectors associated with said line, and responsive to different number signals, and operators transmitting apparatus comprising a plurality of number wheels corresponding with the different selectors, line switch means for each said number wheel, normally disabled, motor means common to all of said number wheels, manually controlled means to con dition any said number Wheel and line switch means to transmit signal impulses in the line, and means including a switch, a latch therefor, an electro-rcsponsive latch release, and a mechanical switch-restoring part, automatically to start the motor at the commencement of, and to stop the motor upon the completion of, each signaling operation.

4. Selective signaling means comprising in combination a line, selectors associated switch means, normally disabled and adapted for operative association with the respective number wheels, to transmit number signals in the line, electro-responsive means to bring said number wheels and the line switch means into operative association, a call initiating device for each number wheel for actuating the last said means and the motor starting means, latch means for preserving the operative condition of the line switch means and means controlled by the transmitter for releasing the said latch means.

5. Selective signaling means comprising in combination a line, selectors responsive to predetermined number signals in the line, signal initiating keys corresponding with said selectors, automatic latching means for said keys, and automatic transmitting means comprising number wheels, line switches operable by said number wheels, normally disabled, motor means for said wheels, means to start said motor when any line switch and number wheel are conditioned for operation, means controlling the release of said keylatching means, means to automatically stop said motor upon completion of the signaling operation, and means controlled by each said key to condition the corresponding number wheel and line switch for operation.

6. Selective signaling means comprising in combination a line, selectors associated with said line, responsive to predetermined number signals, and transmitting apparatus comprising a series of number wheels, a line switch for each number wheel, normally in non-operative condition, a magnet for each line switch for placing it in operative relation to the number wheel and line, asignalinitiating switch for each line switch, and

.circuit connections for each signal-initiati ng switch and magnet controlled by the condition of the preceding signal initiating switches.

7. Selective signaling means comprising in combination a line, selectors in the line responsive to predetermined number signals, and signal transmitting means comprising number wheels for the respective selectors, a line switch for each number wheel nor mally inoperative, an electro-magnet for effecting operative association between each line switch and number wheel for signal transmission, manually operable switches for the electro-magnets, circuit connections for the switch means and electro-magnets, motor means for driving the number wheels, and automatic means for breaking the circuit of the electro-magnet at the commencement of a signaling operation of the number wheel and restoring the connections at the completion of said signaling operation.

8. Selective signaling means comprising in combination a line, selectors associated with the line responsive to number signals, a transmitter comprising number wheels for the respectivev selectors, normally inoperative line switches therefor, line-switch electro-magnets for placing the line switches in operative relation to the signal wheels and line, latch means for continuing said relation, and circuit connections for said electro-magnet each including a manually operable switch.

9. Selective signaling means comprising in combination a line, selectors coacting there with responsive to number signals, and at an operators station selflocking keys for the selectors, a transmitter comprising number wheels and line switches therefor, normally inoperative and controlled by the re spective keys, driving means for the wheels, and releasing means for the keys controlled by the respective wheels. 1

10. Selective signaling means comprising in combination a line, selectors coacting therewith each responsive to its own member signal and a common number signal and self restoring in response to full cyclic operation; a key-board for operation of said selectors comprising a key for each selector, a clearing out key and a general call key, and a transmitter comprising a motor driven shaft, wheels thereon corresponding with and toothed according to the number arrangement of the key board keys, each wheel having sufficient teeth thereon to produce full cyclic operation of the selectors, and means responsive to operation of any keyboard key to associate its corresponding transmitter wheel with the line for transmission of its signal therein.

11. The combination of a key-board com prising a plurality of keys, switches con trolled thereby, and locking means for the respective keys, the locking means for each key controlled by the switch means of the next precedent key, whereby no key releases while the precedent key is depressed, transmitter means comprising a shaft, electric driving means therefor controlled by the switches of the respective keys and controlled also by cyclic rotation of the shaft, signal transmitting wheels on the shaft, constructed for the transmission of separate individual signals and a common signal. for a plurality of stations, respectively; means associated with said wheel also instrumental in control of the release of each key, signal switch means associated with each wheel, and means controlling each signal switch means in turn controlled by the switches appurtenant to one of the keys; whereby said transmitter operates through a single cycle to transmit a signal appurtenant to one key and then to release that key, and upon the depression of a plurality of keys operates through a like plurality of cycles during each cycle to transmit the signal appurtenant to one key and then occasion release of that key; an energized line With which said transmitter signal-switches are connected; and, at a plurality of stations on said line, selector devices each comprising electroresponsive means, means actuated by said electroresponsive means cyclicly operable and self restoring in response to the signal transmitted by any signal Wheel of the transmitter, and signaling means operable by the last said means by its response to the individual signal of one transmitter wheel and also operable by its response to the signal of said common wheel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

W. LINN ALLEN, MARY F. ALLEN.

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